Drying machine



July 10, 1934. L.GALSON ErAL I 1,966,405

V Danie MACHINE Filed April" 25, 1931 s Sheets-Shet 1 Arr-A A-w- Q I j j.25

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Filed Aprii 25, .1931

H. L. GALSON ET AL DRYING MACHINE O O O O O O O O O O O 0 0 O OO O O O OOQO O O 0 0 2 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 1 p e I.

- IINVENTOR. WITNESSES 172712 1262180118 122x70 1127 561 7" ATTORNEY.

Patented July 10, 1934 UNITED STATES PATENT; OFFICE name MACHINEApplication April 25, 1931, Serial No. 582,830

7 Claims.

This invention relates to drying machines of the type adapted to effectelimination of moisture from various materials and embodying a chamher,or a succession of chambers, in which the material treated is subject toa drying medium heated to different temperatures.

object of our invention is to provide an improved machine of the typereferred to in which the means operative to effect circulation andre-circulation of the drying medium are so arranged that the bearingsthereof are located so as to be practically unafiected by the hightemperature of said medium necessary to accomplish efiicient drying.

Another object is to provide a drying machine free of any partsprojecting beyond the limits of its body thereby adapting said machinefor economical usage in confined spaces or where saving of floor spaceis desirable.

A further object is the provision of a novel form of drying machineembodying features of 'construction whereby the drying medium can onlyreturn to the source of circulation after direct passage through thematerial treated.

With the stated and other objects in view, the various features wherebyour invention is characterized will hereinafter be pointed out withparticularity in the claims; but for a clear understanding of saidobjects and associated advantages reference is to be had to thefollowing detailed explanation taken in connection with the accompanyingdrawings.

In the drawings:

Fig. I is a broken longitudinal section of one form of our improveddrying machine taken on the plane designated II in Fig. I.

Fig. II is a cross-section looking in the direction of the arrows II-IIon Fig. I. Fig. III is a fragmentary sectional elevation of a modifiedform of the invention taken on the plane IIIIII of Fig. IV; and,

Fig. IV is a side elevation looking towards the right-hand of Fig. III.

Referring more in detail to the drawings, we have illustrated, by way oftypical examples, types of machines conveniently adapted to the dryingof cotton stock; the same embodying a succes sion of units, eachcomprehensively designated 1; and, inasmuch as-they are substantiallyalike, the following description is mainly confinedv to the singular, inorder to avoid repetitive matter, while corresponding referencecharacters are applied-to all similar parts.

- Each unit enclosure 1 is conveniently, although not essentially, ofrectangular cross-section with opposing walls 2, 3 and a top or roof 4;said enclosure being subdivided by a vertical partition 5 with, in theform of Figs. I and II, a lean-to or inclined upper section 6, whichjointly with the wall 3 and top 4 define a drying chamber 7, and withthe wall 2 set apart a re-circulatory passage 8 to one side of themachine. The unit enclosure 1, as shown in Figs. I and II, is providedwith a hollow frusto-pyramidal thermo-insulated peak 9 over the inclinedsection 6 I and passage 8, within which is appropriately mounted ascroll-like housing 10 for a vertically-rotating double or single inletcentrifugal fan 11. In the form of Figs. III and IV the peak isdispensed with and the housing 10 located below the roof 4, to one sideof the machine, in an obvious manner.

The housing 10 is defined by scroll side plates 12 and has communicationinto the drying chamber 7 by way .of a discharge opening 13; and withthe re-circulating passage 8 by one or more inlet openings 14 concentricwith .the axis of rotation of the fan 11.

Means, such as a conveyor 15, carry the material 16 beingtreated,.cotton stock for example, 89 through the drying chamber 7, ordrying chambers when a succession of such units are aligned as shown.The fan 11 of each unit 1 is mounted on a shaft 17 supported by bearings18, located outside of the insulated peak 9-Fig. I; or in 35 pockets18'Figs. III and IV--inset from the wall 2, where they are not exposedto the high temperature of the circulated drying medium. Furthermore,the fan 11 of each unit 1 is arranged so that their centers line up,which permits use of either a continuous fan-shaft 17; Fig. I; oraxially-aligned coupled shafting, Figs. III and IV, when .serving asuccession of units. This arrangement of the fans 11 eliminates externalbelt or other drives, so commonly used to co-ordinate a succession offans, ,while it facilitates driving of the seriesfrom a prime mover, notshown, that may be mounted on the top or root" 4 of the unit 1, withoutprojection beyond theconfines of the floor space taken up by said unit.

Longitudinal, or otherwise directed, heater coils or banks 19 are eitherlocated above the material 16, as shown; or they may be installed belowthe upper flight of the conveyor 15; or in the're-cir- 1 culatingpassage 8, in an obvious manner, without affecting the generalarrangement of the dryer.

The vertical partition 5 is provided with an opening 20 through whichthe'air, for example, passes from the drying chamber 7, into theiecirculating passage 8; while the peak 9 is provided to confine the aircirculation within the unit 1, and it is preferably made of insulatedpanels to prevent excessive escape of heat. To provide access into thedrying chamber 7, as well as to the floor thereof for purposes ofcleaning out the machine, a number of the side panels 21-Fig. II-may .bemade removable or hinged, in an obvious manner.

Admission of fresh air into the machine is effected by way of anaperture '22, Figs. 11 and III,

connecting into the re-circulating passage 8, un-

ber 7 is effected through an outlet 24 under suitable control.

Attention is here directed to the fact that the partition 5 is arrangedin such a way' that air delivered from the pressure side of the fan 11can only return to the suction side thereof after pas sage through thematerial 16 being dried, subsequent to circulation aboutthe heater coils19. Stationary guards 25 are, conveniently, provided at both sides ofthe upper run of the conveyor 15 to not only safeguard the material 16against falling from, or being blown-oil, said conveyor, but also to aidin causing substantially all of the heated air to be circulated throughsaid material 16 with attendant increased efliciency in the moistureevaporation. Or, the guards 25 may be fitted to and travel with theconveyor 15, as will be apparent to those acquainted with the art.

In addition to the foregoing, our improved drying machine may beprovided with an inclined partition 26 located below the upper run ofthe conveyor 15 to collect any lint or fly, that drops 011 saidconveyor, for gravitation either downwardly towards an opening 27, setapart in the full length of the passage 8 by anangled-partition 28--Fig.II, through which such accumulations fall into a collection chamber 29;or such gravitating matter may be directly deposited in the chamber 29,as obvious from Fig. III, for periodic removal by way of a clean-outdoor or doors 30.

The dryer unit 1 may also be constructed with the fan 11 arranged belowthe upper flight of the conveyor 15 so as to force the drying mediumupwardly through the material 16, and heater coils 19; or said coils maybe otherwise located as hereinbefore specified without departure fromour invention.

Side baflies 31- are prdvided in proximate relation above the heatercoils 19 to direct all of the re-circulating moisture-laden air pastsaid coils for reheating of the air previously cooled by its passagethrough the material 16, whereby the air driven through the material 16is maintained.

8 for re-circulation and reheating in the manner hereinbefore set forth;such circulation and re-circulation being conventionally indicated byarrows on the accompanying drawings.

Particular attention is r drawn to the scroll housing 10 for the fan 11whereby all of the air used for drying purposes is delivered from-itspressure side for efllcient distribution over the heater coils 19, andeflective reheating before forced passage through the material 16;whereby emcient removal of moisture from the latter is considerablyenhanced and the drying more expeditiously effected.

It is to be expressly understood that we do not confine ourselves to theexact details herein shown and described, except as called for by thefollowing claims; while we include within the scope of our invention allreasonable equivalents. For example, we do not limit ourselves to theuse of a conveyor 15 for transporting the material 16, as it isself-evident suitable trucks may be employed within the drying chamber 7without departing essentially from the invention as-set forth.

Having thus described our invention, what we claim is: g

1. In a drying machine the combination of an enclosure subdivided by apartition to define a treating chamber with a return-flow passage at oneside thereof, a scroll-like housing within the. enclosure having inletcommunication with said passage and outlet connection into the treatingchamber, sustaining means to progress material through the treatingchamber, heater me lengthwise of the progressing means in the treatingchamber, and a vertically-rotative centrifugal fan in the scroll-housingto circulate air over the heater means and through the material withreaninclined portion to deflne a treating chamber with a return-flow passageto one side thereof, a peak over said passage and inclined partitionportion, a scroll-like housing within the peak having inletcommunication with said return flow passage and outlet connection intothe treating chamber, conveyor means to progress material through thetreating chamber with spacedly arranged heater coils lengthwise of oneflight of said conveyor means, and a vertically rotative fan in thescroll-housing effective to difluse air over the heater coils forpressure-circulation through the material being treated with suctionreturnflow by way of the passage and peak to the scrollhousing forreheating and re-circulation.

3. The combination in a drying machine ofan enclosure subdivided by apartition embodying an inclined upper portion to define a treatingchambet with a return-flow passage to o e side thereof, 1

tion portion, conveyor" means ,toprogress ma- .te'rial through thetreating chamber with spacedly arranged heater coils lengthwise of oneflight of said conveyor means, guards flanking the conveyor sides toprevent material falling there off as well as aiding tordirect all ofthe heated air through said "material, and a vertically rotative fan inthe scroll-housing effective to diffuse air over the heater coils forpressure-circulation through the material being treated with suction 1return flow by way or" the return-flow passage and peak to thescroll-housing for re-heating and re-circulation.

4, The combination in a drying machine of an enclosure subdivided by apartition embodying an upper inwardly-inclined portion to define atreating chamber with a return-flow passage'to one side thereof, afrusto-pyramidal peak over said passage and inclined partition portion,a

scroll-housing within the'pea-k having inlet communication with saidreturn-flow passage and outlet connection into the treating chamberthrough the inclined partition portion, conveyor means to progressmaterial through the treating chamber with. super-spaced co-extensiveheater coils, guards flanking the conveyor sides to prevent materialfalling there off while aiding direction of all heated air through saidmaterial, baflies associated with the heater coils to entrain all airfor flow thereabout, and a vertically rotative fan in the scroll-housingeffective to diffuse air over the heater coilsfor pressure-circulationthrough the material-with suction-return by way of the return-flowpassage and peak to'the scrollhousing for re-heating and re-circulation.

5. The combination in a drying machine of an enclosure subdivided todefine a treating chamber with a return-flow passage to one side thereofand a frusto-pyramidal peak including a scrollhousing having-inlet andoutlet communication with said return flow passage and treating chamberrespectively, conveyor means to progress material through the treatingchamber, heater coils spaced relative to the conveyor means, guardsflanking the conveyor sides to prevent'material falling there ofi whileaiding directiorfof. all heated air through said material, bafllesassociated with the heater coils to entrain all air for flow thereabout,a partition intermediate the conveyor flights adapted to gravitatematter falling from the material for discharge out of the treatingchamber, and a vertically rotative fan in the scroll-housing eflectiveto difluse air over the heater coils for pressure-circulation throughthe material with suction-return by way of the return-flow passage andpeak to the scrollhousing for reheating and re-circulation.

6. The combination ina drying machine of an enclosure subdivided todefine a treating chamber with a return-flow passage to one side thereofand a frusto-pyramidal peak including a scrollhousing having inlet andoutlet communication with said return-flow passage and treating chamberrespectively, conveyor means-to progress material through the treatingchamber, heater coils spaced relative to and co-extensive with theconveyor means, guards flanking the conveyor sides to prevent materialfalling there of! while aiding direction of all heated air through saidmaterial, baflles associated with the heater coils to entrain all airfor flow thereabout, a partition intermediate the conveyor flights todirect matter falling from the material during the drying operation forgravitational discharge out of the treating chamber into a collectorsection set apart in the returnflow passage, and a vertically rotativefan in the scroll-housing efiective to diffuse air over the heater coilsfor pressure-circulation through the material with'suction-return by wayof the return-flow passage and peak to the scroll-housing for reheatingand re-circulation.

7. The combination in a drying machine of an enclosure subdivided todefine a treating charm ber with a return-flow passage to one sidethereof and a frusto-pyramidal section over said passage enclosing ascroll-housing haying inlet and outlet communication with said sectionand treating chamber respectively, conveyor means to progress materialthrough the treating chamber, heater coils super-spaced relative to andco-extensive with the conveyor means, guards flanking the conveyor sidesto prevent material falling there off while aiding direction of allheated air through said material, baflles associated with the heatercoils to entrain all air for flow thereabout,

an inclined partition intermediate the conveyor flights todirect matterfalling from the material during the drying operation for gravitationaldischarge out of the treating chamber into a collector section, saidsection being set apart in the lower-portion of the return-flow passageby an angled partition at the same elevation and in spacial parallelismwith the lower edge of the inclinedpartition, and a vertically rotativefan in the scroll-housing efliective to diffuse air over the heatercoils for pressure-circulation through the material with suction returnbyway of the passage, Irusto-pyramidal section and scrollhousing to thefan for reheating and re-circulation.

HENRY L. GALSON. HAROLD H. BELQHER.

